News

The International Institute on Islamic Thought (IIIT) is pleased to congratulate Zaytuna College on becoming the first accredited Muslim college in America. This is wonderful news not only for Zaytuna College but for the Muslim community at large.

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) granted Zaytuna College accreditation on March 4th, 2015. Zaytuna College informed WASC of its intention to become accredited in fall of 2010 and sought approval for eligibility to apply in Dec. 2013; this was granted in Feb. 2014. The accreditation process included a site visit as well as a thorough evaluation of Zaytuna College in light of the four major WASC standards.​

WASC is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and accredits institutions in several Western states, including Stanford University and University of California, Berkeley. A degree awarded by Zaytuna College, which graduated its first batch in 2014, will now be recognized by graduate schools and employers. Their website’s domain address will also change from “zaytuna.org” to “zaytuna.edu” in line with all other accredited institutions.

“Five years ago, we introduced an undergraduate liberal arts program inspired by the idea of restoring the holistic education that had been offered in the great teaching centers of Islamic civilization,” said President Hamza Yusuf in a statement published on their website. “Today, Zaytuna’s accreditation roots this vision in a reality recognized within American higher education. It gives our community its first accredited academic address in the United States. And we hope, God willing, that there will be more such Muslim colleges and universities to come.”

WASC praised Zaytuna College for the creation of “a rigorous and high-quality learning experience, one that… can be viewed as an exemplar in the liberal arts tradition.” In addition, it commended the college for the “clarity of its mission and the degree to which this mission has brought harmony of purpose and productivity of effort among the staff and faculty of the institution.”

Congratulations, Zaytuna College, may you continue to thrive and provide benefit as an exemplary institution of Islamic higher education!